THE TERRORISTS' ULTIMATUM

The Algerian terrorist group suspected of Tuesday's Paris subway bombing has threatening more terrorism unless France severs virtually all ties with the military government of Algeria, its former colony. In a statement published in the London-based Arab-language newspaper Asharq al Awsat, the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) demanded that President Jacques Chirac cancel a planned meeting with Algerian President Liamine Zeroual next week, suspend all aid to Algiers, and denounce next month's Algerian presidential election. "What the militants don't understand is that Chirac is planning to read Zeroual the riot act," TIME's Bruce Crumley reports from Paris. "He's going to tell him that France not only wants to see democratic elections, but wants to see democracy in every phase of the society. Regarding the terrorism, a problem for the French government is that the terrorists do not speak with one voice. So even if they capitulated to these demands, there is no guarantee they won't be given more threats from another cell of Algerian terrorists. There is very little room for maneuvering for the French government."